Iran-P5+1 final round of talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme opens in Vienna

VIENNA, July 3 (Itar-Tass) - Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has met with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, who coordinates talks between Iran and the P5+1 group (five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany). Zarif and Ashton met within the 6th round of talks between Iran and the P5+1 in Vienna, the European foreign policy chief’s spokesman, Michael Mann told Itar-Tass on Thursday. Then the consultations will continue within bilateral and multilateral formats. This will be the final round of years-long talks on Iran’s nuclear programme. By July 20 the parties hope to prepare a final agreement that will make it possible to close Iran’s dossier. At present, a draft document has been prepared. The parties note many disagreements. Political directors arrived in Vienna on July 2 and succeeded in holding a coordination meeting in order to synchronise the positions. Head of the Russian delegation, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov arrived in Vienna on July 2. He said the P5+1 had coordinated the positions before the final round of talks. “The Brussels meeting [of June 26] was aimed at forming the position for the next round. We realise the existing problems and the possibilities for compromises.” Ryabkov said he had to leave the Austrian capital for the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) summit due to take place in Brazil. “I’m BRICS Sherpa. I shall have to go to Brazil for coordinating the summit’s final document,” he said. In the meantime, Ryabkov has expressed scepticism over a possibility of any final agreements on Iran’s nuclear programme ahead of schedule - July 15. “I believe it’s unlikely. It’s rather hard to achieve progress till July 15,” Ryabkov said. He said from July 16 Iranians started commemorating the Ashura. This is a memorial day for Hussein bin Ali, leader of the Shi’ites. He was executed by the army of the Sunni regime in southern Iraq in the year 680 CE. The P5+1 is a group of countries which in 2006 joined the diplomatic efforts with Iran in regard to its nuclear programme. The term refers to the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany, namely the United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom, France, and Germany. Learn more on itar-tass.com